Born Genius

Born GeniusKindergarten certificateFrom Cleveland Municipal Clerk of CourtsForeshadowed Mominas greatness and intelligence

your exceptional performanceevidence of your determination, hard work, and tenacityplace you among a select group of young people capable of providing the future leadership our society needs

Brought up as a childWith Islamic valuesIn Pakistani cultureWith American principles

Momina assimilated all threeShe was simpleDid not fall into cult of appearances or self-perceptions

With her intelligence, trained her parents how to properly raise her

Childhood EducationOrdinary schooling throughoutAl-Rahmah Islamic School, BaltimoreMali Embassy School, Saudi ArabiaPakistan Embassy School, Saudi Arabia

Rural RootsDeep attachmentPrideQuoted in essays many timesFamily valuesYou taught me how important family is. Thank you for taking me to Pakistan.

Middle SchoolAt BeaconhouseExtremely intelligentNo significant encouragementNo significant mentorDisappointedIn education systemRequested move to USAAmerican principlesBest education systemOpportunities for allFreedom of speech and justice

High SchoolAcademic encouragementValedictorianMentoring & excellent coachingForeign Extemporaneous speechWinner of many competitions & tournamentsOhio state championNational qualifierFBI & 9/11 story

Graduation & CollegeAccepted by many prestigious schoolsMedical schoolCornell UniversityDuke UniversityMITChose Duke UniversityDeans ListWhos Who Among American Colleges & UniversitiesMajored in English Literature; minored in History

7Duke UniversityStudied Philosophy & critical thinkingAllama Iqbal and related philosophersBergsonKierkegaardNietzscheSartreConcluded that only Iqbals philosophy was relevant to today and awakened consciousness in humanity, Muslim youth in particular

Harvard UniversityM.A. from Department of Near Eastern Languages & CivilizationsStudied Farsi, Urdu, Arabic, and HindiPoetry of Iqbal, Rumi, HafizSpirituality taken to next levelPresented original paper at 2008 Duke-UNC Islamic Studies ConferenceBody and Spirit: Interlocutory Moments between Muhammad Iqbal and Existentialist PhilosophersDeveloped a semester-long courseReadings in Indo-Muslim Thought in North India from the Medieval Period to Partition

UVA School of LawAspiration to be American-Muslim legal scholarBelief in LawAs best means to free intellect from oppressionLaw FirmParalegalMona StandardImprove conditions of poor and marginalizedi.e. prisonsUniversity of Virginia School of LawOne of few students in history of school to get straight AsProfessor Caleb Nelsons Letter of Recommendation

Allama Iqbal & MominaStudied Iqbals philosophy & poetryFollowed his footstepsLearned GermanVisited Germany & same lecture hall where Iqbal studiedUniversity of HeidelbergBrought back poster of Iqbal and Jinnah

Allama Iqbal & MominaCalled herself Allama IqbalStudied his philosophers & Iqbal himselfAgainst capitalism, colonialism, globalization and their exploitative inclinationsDeep love for Prophet

12Allama Iqbal & MominaStudied Quran and applied principles in same way as Iqbal___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Subject: Iqbal aur Qawm al-Zalimeena

From:Momina CheemaTo: Dr. Akhtar Cheema, tayyeba ziaTue 2/26/08 5:55 PM

10:85 They said: "In Allah do we put our trust. Our Lord! make us not a trial for those who practice oppression

meri tarha Iqbal bhi aalimi Capitalist nizam pe socha karte the aur is ke azlam is zamane ki dunya mein. wo in alfaz mein Allah ko puchtey:

tu qaadir o' adil hai magar tere jahaan mein hain talkh bahot banda-e mazdur ke auqaatkab doobega sarmaya parasti ka safeena dunya hai teri muntazir-e roz-e makaafat

Love of FamilyRespected, listened, discussedValued by her and her family My sister is wise and intellectual. My parents cannot argue with her because what she says is the truthAcademic guidance and role model to brothersUnique diary written to mother

Love of PakistanStudied and followed Pakistans social and political problemsWanted to implement interest-free microfinance for indigent, home-staying women in her village1st place essay for Pakistan Independence DayShaping the Future of PakistanSolutions given; still relevant todayOptimistic

I am without a doubt that Pakistan can overcome these obstacles and become a great nation, for I am reminded of the words ofQuaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan, who once remarked Failure is a word unknown to me.

Islamic FaithStrong and certain faith in Quran & SunnahThoroughly studied tafsirs while at Duke & HarvardIbn Kathir original exegesisBukhari, Muslim hadithsOften meditated on Quranic versesTo find deep understandingShared with family and friends

The Perfect Way of LifeImpressed by Sufi approach to life and its teachingsAl-Ghazali, Data Ali HujwiriSultan Bahu, Baba Bulleh Shah, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, GhalibGrandfather: Ch. Sardar Ahmed ZiaInfluence Spiritual, down-to-earth, humble, sincere, generous, witty

ActivismPalestine Solidarity MovementDuke UniversityRecognition by Dean BrodheadMovement for Restoration of JudiciaryActively participated in 2008

ActivistWanted to improve Muslim image in world, particularly of Pakistanis after 9/11Personal trip to Pakistan with best friend CathyVisited Iqbal Academy, Data Darbar, Kasoor, Ali Hajweri

Spread message of respect and peace, inspired friendsThrough knowledge of Islam and SufismFriends claimed to be astray; Momina changed their lives by bringing them into spiritual realmEven online with those not on personal terms